A judge has ordered the release of hundreds of people detained in Chicago immigration raids.

On November 12, a judge ruled that hundreds of people detained in Illinois during an immigration raid should be released. The judge ordered their release on bail no later than the end of next week, according to reports. CNN.

The ruling leaves many questions about how this will be organized and the current whereabouts of those detained. According to the plaintiffs, some have already been transported to other states.

What did the judge decide?

Federal Judge Jeffrey Cummings, Joe Biden's 2023 nominee, sided with lawyers from the National Immigrant Rights Center and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who filed the lawsuit. They allege that federal agents violated a 2022 agreement banning warrantless arrests in the Chicago area.

Last month, Cummings admitted that the agents violated the terms of the agreement. It requires USCIS to make warrantless arrests only under certain conditions: establishing probable cause for unlawful presence in the country, assessing the individual's ties to the local community, and assessing their risk of absconding.

On the subject: Chicago has passed two landmark court decisions protecting migrants from ICE raids.

The plaintiffs allege that Operation Midway Blitz, from June to October, resulted in the arrest of more than 3000 people in the Chicago area. The agreement, which runs until February 2, 2026, provides that anyone detained for violations within the Chicago office's jurisdiction (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kansas, Kentucky, and Missouri) may seek relief, including immediate release.

Who will be released and when?

Of the approximately 3000 people detained between June and October, 615 (about a fifth) are not subject to detention conditions and do not have final deportation orders. The judge ruled that those still in detention and who do not pose a threat to public safety should be released on bail by midday on November 21.

In the list the Department of Justice submitted to the court, only 16 individuals listed the reasons for their designation as "high threat to public safety." These charges ranged from assault to domestic violence and drug trafficking. Another 40 or so individuals were labeled "high risk," but without explanation.

Two problems remain: finding these people and figuring out who will post their bail and how. According to lawyers, many have already been transported to other states. If families or organizations post bail for them, it's unclear whether they will be brought back to Chicago or released where they are currently held.

The organization estimates that approximately 1100 people, having decided to abandon the fight for their rights, have already voluntarily left the United States. According to lawyers, these are mostly people who lived in their communities for years, worked, raised children, and never encountered either the criminal or immigration systems.

What will happen to the Chicago operations?

According to the plaintiffs, government lawyers are asking for a stay of Cummings' ruling until November 21. Such a stay would temporarily prevent deportations or new detentions while the court decides what to do next.

However, immigration authorities have no plans to scale back their operations. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, who led the Midway Blitz, stated that operations in Chicago will continue.

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that the court's decision jeopardizes the safety of Americans. She blamed "activist judges" and "sanctuary-friendly politicians" for allegedly obstructing the detention of the "most dangerous" offenders.

The Trump administration has filed an appeal and is asking the judge to stay the ruling pending its review. The judge has not yet issued a ruling and has requested the plaintiffs to submit their objections by November 17.

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Meanwhile, Bovino left Chicago with a group of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and is reportedly heading to Charlotte, North Carolina. McLaughlin declined to disclose details of his movements, stating that Bovino has "bounties" from criminal groups. As early as November 13, he reported being in West Virginia.

Bovino and other federal agents have been criticized, including by a federal judge, for using excessive force against detainees and protesters.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, McLaughlin said, will continue operations in Chicago while the legal proceedings continue.

Human rights activists have reported, among other things, "inhumane" conditions at a federal immigration detention center in suburban Chicago. Protests and detentions there continue. Protesters and journalists are involved in another lawsuit in which federal agents violated their right to free speech by using tear gas and other riot control.

The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago have also filed lawsuits against the Trump administration following its decision to deploy National Guard troops to the city amid protests against the government's immigration campaign.

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